Man charged in California courthouse explosion also accused of 3 arson fires
Oct 1, 2024, 6:35 PM
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California man has been hit with additional charges in a courthouse bomb attack that injured five people, officials said Tuesday, including for three local arson fires.
Nathaniel McGuire, 20, was charged by federal officials last week with maliciously damaging a building with an explosive. Santa Barbara County prosecutors are charging him with 10 counts, including two counts of attempted murder, use of an explosive device with the intent to murder, and carrying a loaded firearm.
He is also being charged with arson of forest land in connection with three fires that occurred on the outskirts of Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000 in California’s central coast region, that officials say were set in preparation for the courthouse attack.
It was not immediately known whether McGuire had an attorney for his local charges. His federal public defender Iboh Umodu declined to comment on his federal case. His family did not respond to calls or messages for comment.
McGuire was arrested Sept. 25 at the Santa Maria Courthouse where he was about to be arraigned on an illegal gun possession charge when an explosion damaged the building and injured five people. Authorities said McGuire threw a bag into the courthouse lobby that exploded and he left the building on foot. He was arrested as he was trying to get into his car, which was parked nearby.
Authorities said they later found ammunition, a rifle, a suspected bomb, fireworks and 10 Molotov cocktails inside the car and other materials used in making explosives during a search of McGuire’s home.
In a federal court filing, federal authorities said McGuire told law enforcement after his arrest that he had gone to the courthouse planning to kill deputies working at the security desk. Authorities said he told them he planned to go back to the car to get several loaded firearms and reenter the courthouse to kill a judge.
At his arraignment last Friday, he had an outburst where he yelled about world events and blamed the U.S. government. He said he had no rights and was “censored” from speaking out.
“You guys are the real criminals,” McGuire shouted, appearing visibly distressed as his defense attorney tried to calm him down.
McGuire is being held without bail in federal custody. After his federal case, he will be transported back to Santa Barbara County to face the additional charges.
